是 shì … 的 de Structure 2

Grammar Point:
The 是 shì … 的 de structure in Chinese is used to provide strong affirmation. It is often used to clarify or emphasize a point or to make a statement more assertive. It is similar to the way English speakers might stress the word “is” in a sentence.

When to use it?

1. Emphasizing something will or will not happen
2. Talking a job in a casual way
3. Indicating Purpose or Intent

What do I need to know?

1. To negate this structure, always place 不 bù before the adverb not before the 是 shì.
2. In this structure, the use of 是 shì is mostly optional. The only time when 是 shì is necessary in this construction is when negating it. Apart from that, it is often left out.
3. For questions, you can only place 嗎吗 ma at the end. 是不是 shìbúshì doesn’t work in this structure.

Structure

是 + 能, 會/会 or 可以 + Verb + 的

This pattern emphasizes that something will or will not happen, or should not happen.

語言yǔyán不bú練習liànxí， (是)shì會huì退步tuìbù的de语言yǔyán不bú练习liànxí， (是)shì会huì退步tuìbù的de
Language skills will regress if not practiced.

這個zhège網站wǎngzhàn(是)shì可以kěyǐ幫助bāngzhù你nǐ學xué中文zhōngwén的de这个zhège网站wǎngzhàn(是)shì可以kěyǐ帮助bāngzhù你nǐ学xué中文zhōngwén的de
This website can help you learn Chinese.

如果rúguǒ你nǐ願意yuànyì動dòng手術shǒushù， 這個zhège病bìng(是)shì能néng治zhì好hǎo的de如果rúguǒ你nǐ愿意yuànyì动dòng手术shǒuzhú， 这个zhège病bìng(是)shì能néng治zhì好hǎo的de
If you are willing to undergo surgery, this illness can be cured.

你nǐ幫bāng了le我wǒ那麼nàme多duō忙máng， 我wǒ是shì不會búhuì忘記wàngjì的de你nǐ帮bāng了le我wǒ那么nàme多duō忙máng， 我wǒ是shì不会búhuì忘记wàngjì的de
I won’t forget that you’ve helped me so much.

芒果mángguǒ的de皮pí是shì不bù可以kěyǐ吃chī的de， 我暈wǒyūn芒果mángguǒ的de皮pí是shì不bù可以kěyǐ吃chī的de， 我晕wǒyūn
You can’t eat the skin of a mango, My Gosh.

FYI
我暈晕 wǒ yūn is a fun way to express surprise or shock in informal conversations or social media in Mainland China. This phrase can be translated to “I’m dizzy” or “I’m stunned” in English. The use of 暈晕 yūn in this context is similar to the feeling of being lightheaded or dizzy due to a sudden change in circumstances, being caught off guard by something unexpected, or expressing disbelief in a humorous way.

你nǐ不bù找zhǎo人rén合作hézuò， 這個zhège報告bàogào你nǐ是shì能néng一個人yígerén做zuò完wán嗎ma？ 你nǐ不bù找zhǎo人rén合作hézuò， 这个zhège报告bàogào你nǐ是shì能néng一个人yígerén做zuò完wán吗ma？
You are not collaborating with anyone. Are you able to finish this report alone?

S + 是 + Job + 的

This pattern is an informal way to talk about what kind of work people do.

我wǒ是shì教jiāo中文zhōngwén的de我wǒ是shì教jiāo汉语hànyǔ的de
I teach Chinese.

他tā是shì賣mài水果shuǐguǒ的de他tā是shì卖mài水果shuǐguǒ的de
He sells fruits.

我wǒ爸爸bàba是shì修xiū馬桶mǎtǒng的de我wǒ爸爸bàba是shì修xiū马桶mǎtǒng的de
My dad fixes toilets.

你nǐ呢ne？ 你nǐ是shì做zuò什麼shénme的de？ 你nǐ呢ne？ 你nǐ是shì做zuò什么shénme的de？
How about you? What do you do?

People + 是 + 來/来 or 去 + 的

When expressing a purpose or intent, 是 shì and 的 de are often used together with 來来 lái or 去 qù.

我wǒ是shì來lái台灣Táiwān學xué中文zhōngwén的de我wǒ是shì来lái台湾Táiwān学xué汉语hànyǔ的de
I came to Taiwan to learn Chinese.

他tā是shì去qù加拿大Jiānádà工作gōngzuò的de他tā是shì去qù加拿大Jiānádà工作gōngzuò的de
He went to Canada to work.

你nǐ是shì來lái學校xuéxiào學習xuéxí的de， 不是búshì來lái交jiāo朋友péngyǒu的de你nǐ是shì来lái学校xuéxiào学习xuéxí的de， 不是búshì来lái交jiāo朋友péngyou的de
You came to school to study, not to make friends.

Thing + 是 + 用來/用来 + 的

When expressing a purpose, 是 shì and 的 de are often used together with 用來来 yònglái, especially when the subject is a thing.

那個nàge杯子bēizi是shì用來yònglái喝hē紅酒hóngjiǔ的de那个nàge杯子bēizi是shì用来yònglái喝hē红酒hóngjiǔ的de
That cup is for drinking red wine.

這個zhège網站wǎngzhàn是shì用來yònglái給gěi你們nǐmen學xué中文zhōngwén的de这个zhège网站wǎngzhàn是shì用来yònglái给gěi你们nǐmen学xué汉语hànyǔ的de
This website is for you to learn Chinese.

這些zhèxiē錢qián是shì要yào用來yònglái買mǎi房子fángzi的de这些zhèxiē钱qián是shì要yào用来yònglái买mǎi房子fángzi的de
This money is for buying a house.

• Providing details – 是 shì…的 de structure 1 (HSK 2)